Metal frame and hitch-pin plate for pianos.



No. 666,|37. Patented Ian. l5, 190i.

6. R. S. J. HALLE. METAL FRAME AND HITCH PIN PLATE FOII PIANOS.

(Application filed Aug. 14, 1900,)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD ROBERT STEPHEN JOHN HALLE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

METAL FRAME AND HITCH-PIN PLATE FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,137, dated January 15, 1901. Application filed August 14, 1900. bcrial No. 26,890. (No model.)

T0 (LY/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOLIEEORD ROBERT STE- PHEN JOHN HALLE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 50 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Metal Frames and Hitch-Pin Plates for Pianofortes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the simplification of the construction of pianofortes and the improvement of tone by the use of iron resistance-frames, the bars of which are arranged behind the soundboard. To accomplish this in a manner whereby great strength is obtained in the connection of the hitch-pin plate to the frame, while the method of attachment is exceedingly simple, I have de vised the following iron frame, which will be easily understood from the accompanying drawings. This system is available for either grand or upright or oblique pianos.-

Figure 1 is a plan of my improved frame. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line b b, Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4; is a side or edge view of the hitch-pin plate, the hitch-pins not being shown. Fig. 5 shows one of the lugs of the hitch-pin plate in position, fixed with a wedge.

The frame is preferably cast in one piece and consists of a series of T-shaped bars I), held together or cast with a surrounding edge frame 0 of 'F-shaped bars. The T-shaped bars have projections D cast on them a few inches from the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which form a support for the wrest-plank, which is bolted at the top through holes F or slots in the top of the frame 0. At the required distances from the wrest-plan k projections D the bars B are kinked or bulged on one side, as at G, to form recesses H in the bars, and at the top and bottom of these recesses blocks K are cast on the bars B,of the requisite height to raise the hitch-pin plate.

The hitch-pin plate I, Fig. 4, is cast with projections J, of an oblong shape, which projections fit into the aforesaid recess H in the bars B, the plate I itself resting upon the blocks K. The ends of the hitch-pin plate I carry lugs L, which are shorter and rest on the bars 0 behind projections K and are attached by bolts or otherwise to the bars 0.

One edge of the projections J of the hitchpin plate may be beveled or angled to admit of a wedge being driven from the back of the frame between'such projections and the back part of the recess H in the bars B, so as to insure the lugs J being firmly held in the recesses H, as shown in Fig. 5, (M being the wedge in position,) the bar B being broken off above and below the recess H.

In making the frame or back of the piano complete with wrest-plank and soundboard the bottom edge of the wrest-plank is cut to allow the projections D to embed themselves into it, so that the bottom edge of the wrestplank is level or nearly level with the bottom of the projections D. A slip of wood is then glued onto the bottom edge of the wrest-plank, resting also. on the bars B. Similar slips are then screwed onto the F-shaped bars C through holes in those bars. These slips form the gluing-surface for the soundboard. The soundboard is made with holes in it, so that it may pass freely over the blocks K on the bars B without touching at any part and is glued onto the aforesaid slips. When the soundboard is in position, the hitch-pin plate is dropped into its position, the ends B are bolted, and the greater the strain on the plate the more firmly the lugs J are held in the recesses H, the hitch-pin plate being in fact self-locking.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A metallic frame for pianos consisting of T-shaped end and side bars, a series of F-shaped bars connecting said end bars together and provided each with a recess, and a pair of projections carried by each of the bars and between which is arranged said recesses.

2. A frame having a series of bars connecting the ends together, said bars each provided with a suitably-arranged recess, a projection carried by each of the bars near the top thereof, and a pair of projections carried by each of the bars and between which the recess thereof is arranged.

3. A frame having a series of bars connectin g the ends together, said bars each provided with a recess and a bulged portion, a projection carried by each of said bars, and a pair of projections carried by each of said bars below the first mentioned projection and between which the recess thereof is arranged.

at. A frame having a series of bars connecting the ends together and each provided with a recess, a pair of projections carried by each of said bars and between which the recess thereof is arranged, and a hitch-pin plate provided with a series of projections adapted to be secured in said recesses.

5. A frame having a series of bars connecting the ends together and each provided with a recess, a projection carried by each of said bars and adapted to support a wrest-plank, a pair of projections carried byeach of said bars and between which the recess thereof is arranged, a hitch-pin plate engaging said pairs of projections, and a series of projections carried by said plate and adapted to be secured in said recesses.

o. A frame having one of its ends provided with a series of openings to secure a wrestplank thereto, a series of bars connecting the ends of said frame together, and each provided with a suitably-disposed recess, a projection carried by each of said bars and adapted to support a wrest-plank, a hitchpin plate, and means connected thereto and engaging in said recesses for securing said plate to said baIs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLIFFORD ROBERT STEPHEN JOHN UALLE.

\Vitnesses:

EDMUND S. SNEWIN, XVM. 0. BROWN. 

